The best Cinematographers

2005 Oscar winner for best cinematographer


Film: Memoirs of a Geisha


Cinematographer: Dion Beebe


One of his latest film is ''Nine''



The blue lighting shining on her tells us she is an important person even though we don't see no other characters in the shot and she is the main focus as the light is shining on her.This cinematographer uses lighting really well in this image. As the character is really in a closed up positions it could suggest she is a silent and has a closed up personality. By the use of the prop (umbrella) it has connotations of her being a very defensive person.



2006 Oscar Winner for best cinematographer


Film: Pan's Labyrinth (El labyrinth del fauno)


Cinematographer: Guillermo Navarro


He is currently working on ''The Twilight Saga''


What I really love about this image is the lines and the shapes the cinematographer really though about while taking this image. When you look at the images straight away your eyes follow the lines therefore for us the audience it gives us kind of enigma/mystery. This shot I would expect to see in a thriller/adventure film because it seems like anything can happen at any moment. I really like the lighting used the high key lighting in the image follows downs the corridor which compliments the lines also making us follow down the corridor which is done really effective and enigma is created by looking at this shot. We can denote the colour in the shot which is red therefore the connotations it could have is danger or death which really fits in the setting of the shot.


2007 Oscar winner for best cinematographer



Film: There will be blood



Cinematographer: Robert Elswit



The latest film he worked on was ''Salt'' and in production ''Mission Impossible IV''




This shot really looks powerful and give audience the message clear. As the character is shown sitting down on a chair not doing nothing about it represents him as a weak character and as we see people in the background trying to stop of what is happening. I really like the way this cinematographer uses colour as the costume matches the fumes of the explosion. By the costume the character is wearing we can tell that they want they audience to go back in years. The drawbacks of this image I think is the framing of the shot because on the left we can see an open space which I think is necessary and if the cinematographer would of cropped it out then we would of got a better image overall. What I like about the image that it kind of creates juxtaposition as one of the buildings are already burnt down where as the other is still burning therefore it could b saved from fire.



2008 Oscar winner for best cinematographer


Film: Slumdog Millionaire



Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle



The latest film he worked on was ''The Eagle''



What I like about this cinematographer he really has a strong meaning behind the image and tells the audience what he wants by applying mise en scene elements. As we look at the image we can denote a old vehicle (prop) and children, we as audience are used to seeing children playing with toys stereotypically, however in this images it goes against the stereotype them being next to a old vehicle which could be dangerous for them which tells us they have a different lifestyles. The use of the costumes by the characters have a connotation of poverty as we can see their clothe are really dirty. Through their facial expressions we can say they are really not happy apart from one character which seems to be laughing which gives us the idea they are really different and they take in things differently. We can denote the setting in the image which tells us they live in the slums in a poor area. Through the use of the mise en scene elements create that realism and that poverty atmosphere in the shot. As the characters are all close to each other in the shot we can suggest they could be really close to each other or even be family. I like the way this cinematographer used organisation and framing of the shot he really though about what he wants the audience to see such as; the building in the foreground. As the characters are more to the right it could suggest no one really cares about them as they are not in the center of the shot.
The lighting has been used really well in the shot the natural lighting in the background the high key lighting and the low key lighting in the foreground creates a juxtaposition the white representing class, wealth and where as black is the opposite.




2009 Oscar winner for the best cinematographer


Film: Avatar


Italian cinematographer won Oscar for shooting
Avatar the first ever film shot in HD and using the latest technology.


He also had won 3 wins & 5 nominations


He is now the director of photography of the new film ''The A-Team''



What I really like about this cinematographer the colours he uses and the composition of the shot. When we look at this image we can straight away denote the blue colour clearly which could have a connotation of magic and gives us an idea that we are in a fantasy environment. Through the use of props by the character we could tell that we are taken into this world we haven't been before which I like the idea of this shot as the audience would really want to watch the film and see the world takes them and what kind of things the characters will go through and experience. Also the the objects in the background takes away into the fantasy world and makes us leave the real world and it is really obvious to see that the film is going to have fantasy genre elements. The use of the character in the shot again tells us it's not real and takes the realism away.